In the Studio

         Since returning to work full time it has become abundantly clear that there are not enough hours in the day to fit in all the things I love to do- sitting around coffee shops scarfing back buttery pastries while knitting and chatting for hours on end is a rare occurrence these days! I am becoming much more mindful of how I spend my downtime- the hours after school becoming my favourite part of our day. Long walks home in the sunshine or short dashes through the rain- as long as I have one Little on each of my paws I am a happy Momma! These afternoon hours are becoming sacred to me- to us.

          Of course a part of me would be missing if a portion of my day was not spent being creative and making things- since my time is tight I have taken to spending and hour here or there working in my sketch book. Spurred on by the Opus Daily Practice in February I have kept going- or should I say we have kept going because painting right along side me is my girl. We have started painting together in what has rapidly become another family sketch book- which is great fun- my girl on one side and I on the other- elbow to elbow- passing the brushes and paints back and forth.

 
            It is such a treat to work beside her- a language of colour and shape happening where no words are necessary. In the sunshine- out on the deck we sit- our portable studio- ready at a moment's notice. After a fast and furious day at work slowing down and just being is just the thing I need- filling my soul up- the exhale of breath that has been held all day. My girly at my side.

Brighter Days

           These past few days our fair city has been experiencing Spring- unseasonably warm weather combined with clear skies has people sporting sandals and sun dresses- yes it's just that warm- fingers crossed this weather sticks around. The cherry blossoms are popping out like nobody's business- a tree at the school is bursting- it looks like it's covered in snow- days like yesterday make the high cost of living so worth while! My cheeks are tight with the first blush of a sun burn- my hair still smells like the ocean and my soul is full to the brim with sunshine- enough to carry me through the rainy season which is surely just around the corner.

           Our family has some really big changes happening this month- I am switching from part time work to a more full time position- still with the same company- but for now weekdays. While having our weekends free will be nice our mornings will sure to be a struggle with dear old Dad at the helm- I fully anticipate library books will be forgotten and pony tails might be askew but we will make it through. In any case exciting things are happening- I can barely wait to get started!

           Looking back at this time last year we have come so far- our little family is growing in leaps and bounds- this feels like the right time to take the leap for myself. For the first time in a very long time I am thinking mostly of myself- what I want to do- not what I have to do. My kids are becoming more independent - they are definitely not the babies they were a year ago. I feel I can move forward through my days with a calm mind- knowing they are content- now is the time. I feel with the return of the sun so to returns a slice of my own independence- as a family we grow- together but separately- side by side.

On A Friday

      On this Friday the fog is swirling so low that it is wrapping around between the buildings of our city- muffled fog horns sound from a few blocks away and I have decided to curl up with a second coffee. This has been one busy and intense week- lots of emotions- lots of night time wakings from our little ones- they claim nightmares- I blame the fog horns. Its that broken sleep that is bringing all the emotional behavior to the table and so as Mum I've been digging down deep to find extra reserves of patience- as they say "thank goodness it's Friday"!

    In addition to a lack of sleep I have been racing to meet two big deal lines- so I have been putting any extra energy into my work- pillows galore! I am very excited about that is happening in my studio- AKA kitchen table- lots of yummy natural linens, indigo Ikats and striped Japanese gauzes! I work well with a deadline- in University I thrived on deadlines- cramming for exams or under the gun to finish a gallery installation. The difference between University me and current me is that my time is spread so much thinner- I can already feel I am overextending myself -so if you happen to be one of my regular coffee dates and I disappear for a bit just know I am probably buried under a pile of gorgeous linen and colourful threads.

      As you may have read in my previous posts I don't usually make New Years Resolutions- however I am beginning to see the necessity to lay out a plan for myself for the coming year. I'm turning 38 years old this year- yup 38 and I'm good with aging- I can feel the grace and wisdom I craved as a young woman starting to seep into my soul- what I am not good with is whatever it is my body is doing to me! So I think I need to learn how to balance out my time between my family, myself and my business- and if there is any leftover time the dirty dishes! My big challenge lies in separating creating for pleasure and creating for work- I need to find something creative to do just for fun- something to take my mind off Plain Jane.

    It's tough to make that separation when you work from home- often folks will assume because I'm working from home that I'm not doing anything. Someone recently asked me besides being a Mum what is it that I do all day long? I could rant all day long about how being a stay at home Mum is one of the busiest jobs ever- throw in a full time small business and you will see there is not a tonne of time left to relax in my day. While it's true I have lots of flexibility in my day- I can do school pick up- I can go to a yoga class- I can go for the occasional coffee- what few people see is me still sitting at the sewing machine at 11:00 at night. So this is the separation and balance I seek to make happen in my days- currently things are wildly out of balance.

    Anyways it is Friday dear Friends- I am so happy- by the end of today one of my two deadlines will have been met and I can relax a tiny bit- I have a bottle of wine waiting for me in the fridge! In our neck of the woods the weather is looking fine for the next few days- no rain so to speak- if you need me look to the paths of the forests as I trying to catch my breath there! Happy Friday Friends!